Dream Big in 2010: Even You Can Win a World Series of Poker Bracelet

It takes a lot of skill, experience, and luck to win a World Series of Poker bracelet. In the coming weeks I will share with you poker strategies, tips, and quizzes so you can improve your poker game and perhaps be ready to enter a tournament and win big.

In case you don’t know, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the biggest poker event of the year. The 41st annual WSOP will run from May 27-July 17 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. There will be 57 tournaments with the most popular events being the no limit tournaments, where buy-in fees start at $1,000.

Let’s get right into the action, with a simple poker quiz.

Poker Quiz

You bought into one of the no limit tournaments at the WSOP and you have just taken your seat. All the players start off with the same chip amount. The tournament director announces into the microphone, “Shuffle Up and Deal!”

The first hand is dealt to all 10 players at the table (including you). The first player to act moves all-in for all of his chips. The second player moves all-in for all of her chips. You peek at your cards and find a pair of aces. What should you do?

a) Fold because you don’t want to risk all of your chips on the first hand.

b) Risk all of your chips and make the all-in call.

Would your decision be any different if you bought into this tournament for $100, $1,000, or $10,000 in cash?

Answer: It doesn’t matter how much money it costs you to enter a tournament. You have to make the play that gives you the best opportunity of winning. Pocket aces is the best starting hand in poker and you will be the favorite to triple up on your first hand.

Make the call. If you get unlucky and lose, well, I’m sure you can find something fun to do in Vegas.

If you hesitated on how to answer this question, or selected the wrong answer, don’t worry about it. You will understand better in the coming weeks.